NEW YORK– Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday urged greater India–US collaboration in the energy sector, calling for expanded trade and deeper cooperation on clean energy during a high-level session on energy security in New York.
The event, co-hosted by the Consulate General of India, also featured Indian MP Anurag Thakur. According to the Consulate, Goyal highlighted opportunities to grow energy trade, explore nuclear power as a cost-effective clean energy option, and support start-ups in the renewables space.
He emphasized India’s achievements in building an integrated national grid that ensures resilience and uninterrupted supply. Goyal also reaffirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “One Sun, One World, One Grid,” noting India’s leadership in solar energy, the International Solar Alliance, and the nation’s push toward inclusive, sustainable, and affordable growth.
The energy talks coincided with a new round of trade discussions. On Monday, Goyal met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York to negotiate the first tranche of a trade agreement. Sources said the talks focused on resolving key sticking points, with optimism that an interim deal could be reached soon. This followed earlier meetings in Delhi between U.S. Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch and India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also held talks in New York with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday. Rubio described India as “critical” to the United States and welcomed ongoing trade discussions. Jaishankar posted afterward that their talks covered a wide range of bilateral and global issues and stressed the importance of sustained engagement.
However, trade diplomacy is unfolding against the backdrop of new U.S. immigration hurdles. Last week, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on each new H-1B visa application. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security proposed scrapping the lottery system in favor of a weighted process favoring higher-skilled applicants. (Source: IANS)
